Mayor's Show Ruled Ethical

Allentown Mayor Joseph Daddona is not violating ethics rules by hosting a radio talk show, according to the city's Ethics Board.

And, as Daddona's show enters its second week, he is still waiting for an opinion from the state Ethics Commission.

Daddona requested the opinions before announcing last month that he would host the "Joe Daddona Show" weekday mornings. The mayor wanted to make sure others agreed that by working for WAEB-AM while in office he was not acting unethically.

He said that if either ethics panel concludes he is violating ethics rules, he will not accept compensation from the station.

"I think he's entitled to an outside source of income as long as it doesn't interfere with his duties and responsibilities as the mayor of Allentown," said city Ethics Board member Rev. Ernest Andrews.

In its Dec. 30 opinion, the city Ethics Board listed two conditions that the mayor should follow to comply with Allentown's ethics code:

*He should not be involved in selling advertisements, to avoid an implication that the advertiser might receive a favor from him or the city. By not selling ads, that would also prevent him from spending too much time on non-mayoral duties.

*And he should not read ads to avoid an implication that he or the city endorses any firm, product or service.

In a letter to the state Ethics Commission, Daddona promised to not sell ads. He said his compensation would be based on the total ad revenue received for his show.

He also said he would not accept advertising income from any firm that has business pending before the city if he could influence the outcome of that business.

Despite the opinion from the ethics panel, Councilman Frederick Hawkins said he is concerned that the mayor is violating the city's ethics code.

The code forbids a city official from using the authority, title or prestige of public office for financial gain if the official does that in a manner inconsistent with the public interest.

According to Hawkins, the mayor used the prestige of being mayor to get the job. Plus, it is inconsistent with the public interest for the mayor to spend 90 minutes every day on non-city business, Hawkins said.

But the mayor said he was hired for his experience in the community, not because he's mayor.

And he said he still spends more than 40 hours a week on city business.

"I think that's a red herring on the part of Fred Hawkins," Daddona said.

It's not the first time Daddona has hosted a show. But the show he had on Service Electric TV occurred before he was mayor, and the show on WFMZ-TV occurred between his terms as mayor.

He said he might host another show on WFMZ-TV next year after he leaves office. He declined to reveal more details other than to say it would be a public affairs call-in show.